I liked Francesco straight away. Not only as a player but as a person. He is a phenomenon. A rare player. It seems as if when he was born, the heavenly father said: 'Go down there and play football and that's it.' And he did what he was prescribed to do.

"I want to compliment Francesco Totti, scoring 206 goals is a great achievement. It does not matter that he has beat me as he is a great player."

"Italy legend Roberto Baggio congratulates Roma's Francesco Totti for scoring 206th Serie A goal". Goal.com. 3 May 2011. Retrieved on 31 May 2011.. "He fought so hard and is now reaping the rewards. He always picked himself back up with pride and courage. Totti set an example with his achievements and his passion for this sport, proving you can push beyond your limits. He has the quality and ability to keep going and catch the next players in the all-time scorers’ charts. He is one of the last few real Number 10s and while he has the strength, he should keep playing."

Totti has the technique of a South American and deserved to win a few more trophies with his Roma team. In fact, he also deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. He is an extraordinary player. In Italy it’s not easy for kids to come up through the youth academy and impose themselves on the first team, but he managed it and became the symbol of Roma. Totti manages to think with his feet and would’ve done great things with my Roma side in 1982-83.

"World Cup: Totti, key to Italy's World Cup hope". People's Daily Online. 29 May 2006. Retrieved on 1 June 2011.. "Totti has always been an amazing guy, humble both in dealing with the Coaches and teammates. He was impressed me by the determination that was put in every day."

Only Gigi Riva could kick the ball like him in Italy. But only with his left foot. Totti can use both feet and can hit the ball in several ways. Such champions can shoot ten times per match and eight of them are aimed on target, while five are very dangerous and can turn into a goal. Totti's shooting qualities are unique and they will stay intact for life.

"World Soccer interview with Giovanni Trapattoni". World Soccer. 2 December 2001. Retrieved on 3 June 2011.. "If I was still playing football today, then I would have real problems marking Totti, a bit like I struggled to control Pelé in the past. He has those same characteristics."

Jose Mourinho: You know more than me what Totti means for Roma, for the Serie A, and for his team-mates. I want him to play because he's the best player in the Italian championship in terms of spectacle and quality of play. [13]

"Ferguson admits to Maldini desire". Football Italia. 6 September 2011. Retrieved on 6 September 2011.. "Totti is the architect of everything they (Roma) do and we have to decide how best to deal with him. The issue is what we do with our centre-backs and whether we push one on to Totti but we can't let him control the game. It's a tricky one but we have to resolve it as best we can."

Arsene Wenger: "Totti is a top, top class player. He is typical of the Roman game and I’m sure he will never move outside of Roma. He used to play in behind the strikers and then one day they had no central striker so they played him up front and won game after game. He suddenly became the topscorer in Italy as a central striker. That means this guy has absolutely everything. He has a fantastic protection of the ball, he has a quick turn and then he has a very good pass in the final third of the pitch. He can be deadly with every single pass. He will certainly be the most dangerous provider in the final third for them in this game. He is not the only player who can be dangerous but he can open the defence with any pass at any moment of the day if you give him the freedom."

""Totti è il più forte al mondo"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved on 2 June 2011.. "Totti is the history of Roma, the club, and I think that he is an intelligent man. Totti will stay and will close his career with Roma because he cares about the future of club and created a contract that sees him as the player the club will build it's image around. I do not see why he should leave Roma"

Carlo Ancelotti: "Totti is a great player who gave so much for Roma and still can give. He is the player who managed the best, especially from the physical point of view, he can remain a very important player to the team."

"Mazzone on Del Piero and Totti". Football Italia. 5 September 2012. Retrieved on 5 September 2012.. "I am privileged because I had the luck of seeing Totti’s first goal in Serie A as well as the fantastic culmination of Baggio’s career. If I had been able to coach both of them together in the same team I would have won a lot and certainly wouldn’t have lost all my hair. I’d like it a lot if we could all have dinner together and remember their goals."

"Il capitano" (in Italian). asromaenonsolo.com. Retrieved on 2 June 2011.. "He and Roberto Baggio are two great players and it is hard to compare the two."

"Prandelli hails goal king Totti". Football Italia. 3 May 2011. Retrieved on 2 June 2011.. "I had the good fortune to train him for a few months and that was an honour. He is an exemplary professional and is breaking all records at Roma, regardless of age. Totti is a real champion and always manages to achieve his objectives. He’s also a great man."

"Zeman: Roma captain Totti Italy’s only true champion". tribalfootball.com. 24 November 2009. Retrieved on 1 June 2011.. "Totti is the best player I ever worked with. He had talent and showed it off. He changed role, becoming a centre-forward and therefore more susceptible to getting fouled, so the two major injuries have taken their toll."

"Zeman: 'Possession is futile!'". Football Italia. 8 June 2012. Retrieved on 9 June 2012.. "I'm even more convinced now that Totti is one of the greatest players of all time."

Roberto Mancini: "Totti is still the number one in Italy and among the first in Europe."

"Roberto Mancini: "Totti è il numero uno in Italia"" (in Italian). Forza-Roma.com. 6 October 2010. Retrieved on 7 January 2013.. "If Francesco is able to be this consistently impressive at the highest level at the age of 36, it’s because over the course of his career he has acted like a professional."

Luiz Felipe Scolari: "Totti is a fantastic player, when you lose a player like him is like losing more than one."

"SCOLARI: ´TOTTI GIOCATORE FANTASTICO, MA NOI DOBBIAMO VINCERE´" (in Italian). romanews.eu. 3 November 2008. Retrieved on 14 November 2013.. "I really like him. He plays well, he has an unsurpassed quality and a great identification with AS Roma. His love for this team is amazing and we Brazilians give considerable importance to certainties. If he were Brazilian he would have great possibilities of being called up, but has the good luck of being part of a fantastic and spectacular national team."

Luis Enrique: "He is not only the King of Rome, but of the world. He is unique and it’s a pleasure to have players like Totti in the side."

"Luis Enrique: 'We'll make Roma proud'". Football Italia. 14 June 2011. Retrieved on 15 June 2011.. "I had the chance to play against Totti. I really like him, I’m really happy that I have the chance to be his Coach."

"Enrique: 'I'd resign if...'". Football Italia. 4 December 2011. Retrieved on 7 December 2011.. "I've spoke about Francesco so many times I think I'm falling in love with him – my wife is quite jealous. I have a special relationship with him and we've got on very well right from the very start. He's always behaved well and I've been lucky to have known him while he was still playing. It was a great pleasure to coach him."

Rudi Garcia: "Francesco is not only a formidable player – a "fuoriclasse" as you say in Italy – but also a man with great qualities outside of football. For me he is one of the very best players in the history of the sport. What I would really love is to win something with him at Roma."

"Garcia: 'Totti among best in history'". Football Italia. 8 September 2013. Retrieved on 10 September 2013.. "I'm happy he's extended his contract. People usually talk about players being legends once they've retired, but Francesco still has the chance to write his own legend. And I hope to do it alongside him. It's how old you feel that's important, not the age on your passport – that's why Totti's still young."

"Garcia hails birthday boy Totti". Football Italia. 27 September 2013. Retrieved on 29 September 2013.. "He is a wonderful player with the ball at his feet, so he needs to touch the ball as much as possible."

Eusebio Di Francesco: "Totti has great football intelligence, experience and seems to have four eyes to spot all potential passes."

"Di Francesco faces Roma past". Football Italia. 13 November 2011. Retrieved on 13 November 2011.. "Francesco has always been the added value for Roma. I am proud to still have an extraordinary rapport with him and every Christmas we exchange gifts."

Francesco and I grew up together and he is like a little brother to me, My father (Franco Sensi) used to say that he was the son he never had. No-one embodies the spirit of our team better than he does.

Florentino Pérez: I spent a lot of money in my life to build a powerful team like Real Madrid, but my desire, I always liked the captain of Roma, Francesco Totti. Unfortunately, it was impossible to reach him because Totti always want to remain with his club and his city.

Above all on the eve of a match like this one, when on the other side, wearing a captain band on his arm, there’s a player like Francesco Totti. If we put together our goals scored, it's over 500. If we sum up the years of career, wearing the same shirt – it comes up to 35. We won the World Cup together and those memories unite us forever"

"Guardiola gives Roma Pep talk". xtratime.org. 6 August 2002. Retrieved on 27 June 2012.. "I am proud to play in a team with a player like him who is the symbol of Roma and that means a lot to the fans of this club. The modern game has changed a lot, but I think it is critical to a club with a player who is much like Totti at Roma or Maldini at Milan. Money is important in football, but there are other things more important value for an entity."

Totti is always strong, and as a Roman, fights for the team. He makes you feel great, and was a fantastic teammate. He has done a lot of brilliant things for Roma and for the Italian national team. I have always rooted for him.

Totti is the greatest exponent of the Roman world. He is a player who kids look up to. When the day arrives that he has to retire, it will be hard for Roma and the whole environment there because he is a club emblem.

Totti is a patron of football, an absolute champion on and off the field. Francesco has only played as a centre forward for four or five years. He was a great Number 10 and playmaker, but now is a pure striker.

Totti is a great player, one of the last Number 10s remaining in football. The way to play football today has pushed out real Number 10s who make the show. I have a lot of admiration for him, I think he is the best Number 10.

I have a lot of respect for Francesco Totti. When you talk about Roma, you think about Francesco Totti, and when you talk about Francesco Totti, you think about Roma. I’ve had to battle so many times against him. I have maximum respect for him.

"De Rossi: "Roma for life Luis Enrique decisive"". Gazzetta dello Sport. 6 February 2012. Retrieved on 7 February 2012.. "It will be impossible to reach his record. He's loved by all, and is decisive on the pitch. I have great desire to show this as well."

Apart from his indisputable ability as a player, Francesco is a stupendous person. I grew up a lot alongside him and De Rossi. Totti, for me, is an idol. If it wasn’t for him then I wouldn’t be here today. I’m honoured to have known him. Totti is not a problem for Coaches, but for defences.

Totti is very important, on and off the pitch, for what he has won and for his charisma. He’s an example for everyone to follow, for the young players and for players like me who have arrived from abroad. The fact that he has played his football here for so long is proof of that. It’s always nice to watch him train.

Totti has impressed me most about Roma. He has been, and remains, a very important player, who has spent many years here. The other day he explained that he joined the club in 1989 and is now 35 - he arrived before I was born!

You learn a lot from Totti. He is a player that is part of the club’s history, an idol of the fans. Not mentioning the Argentines, Totti is the player who gives me the most advice. He is one of those who I talk to most. There are no problems with the language, we understand each other.

Totti is great, at his age he still makes a difference, as Federer. I’d take him everywhere, even to dinner with me. He is really strong. If AS Roma won the Scudetto I would invite Totti for a ride with me.

No one would have thought that Totti would have a career like this. But even from his debut you could see that he was destined to succeed. I have a great admiration for him. Look at the likes of Giggs, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero – it is hard to believe that anyone can get to 40 years of age and keep playing, but Totti could. He is a boy who loves this city. He could have won more elsewhere, but he loves Rome.